BELBUCA has been proven to reduce severe and persistent pain versus placebo*
In people previously taking commonly prescribed opioids like hydrocodone, tramadol, oxycodone, and morphine
What to expect with BELBUCA
BELBUCA offers 7 dose strengths
BELBUCA has 7 dosage strengths and is taken 2 times a day (every 12 hours)
Multiple dosage strengths may help you and your healthcare provider find the dose that provides the relief you need from severe and persistent pain. Maximum dose is 900 mcg every 12 hours
Talk to your doctor as you begin treatment
It is important to know that your starting dose may not be the final dose. You and your healthcare provider will work together to find the BELBUCA dose that best manages your severe and persistent pain, your "optimal dose." This is the dose that is tolerable while effectively managing your severe and persistent pain.
Be patient, and give your body time! You may experience a change in symptoms. It may take time and a few adjustments to find your optimal dose. Be sure to continue to talk with your healthcare provider about how you are feeling and how well your pain is being managed. Once you are effectively managed on BELBUCA, you may be able to reduce or eliminate the amount of rescue medicine needed to manage your severe and persistent pain.
Get emergency help or call 911 right away if you take too much BELBUCA (overdose). When you first start taking BELBUCA, when your dose is changed, or if you take too much (overdose), serious or life-threatening breathing problems that can lead to death may occur. Ask your healthcare provider about medicines like naloxone or nalmefene that can be used in an emergency to reverse an opioid overdose.
The possible side effects of BELBUCA include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and sleepiness.†
Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms and they are severe
These are not all the possible side effects of BELBUCA. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.
†These are the most commonly reported side effects by patients participating in clinical studies comparing BELBUCA with placebo (sugar pill). Individual results may vary.
APPROVED USE
*BELBUCA® (buprenorphine buccal film) CIII is:
- A strong prescription pain medicine that contains an opioid (narcotic) that is used to manage severe and persistent pain that requires an extended treatment period with a daily opioid pain medicine when other pain medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them.
- A long-acting opioid pain medicine that can put you at risk for overdose and death. Even if you take your dose correctly as prescribed, you are at risk for opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse that can lead to death.
- Not to be taken on an “as needed” basis.
Important information about BELBUCA:
- Get emergency help or call 911 right away if you take too much BELBUCA (overdose). When you first start taking BELBUCA, when your dose is changed, or if you take too much (overdose), serious or life-threatening breathing problems that can lead to death may occur. Ask your healthcare provider about medicines like naloxone or nalmefene that can be used in an emergency to reverse an opioid overdose.
- Taking BELBUCA with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
- Never give anyone else your BELBUCA. They could die from taking it. Selling or giving away BELBUCA is against the law.
- Store BELBUCA securely, out of sight and reach of children, and in a location not accessible by others, including visitors to the home.
Do not use BELBUCA if you have:
- severe asthma, trouble breathing, or other lung problems.
- a bowel blockage or have narrowing of the stomach or intestines.
Before taking BELBUCA, tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of:
- head injury, seizures
- heart rhythm problems (long QT syndrome)
- liver, kidney, thyroid problems
- pancreas or gallbladder problems
- problems urinating
- tooth problems, including a history of cavities
- abuse of street or prescription drugs, alcohol addiction, opioid overdose, or mental health problems
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT BELBUCA®
WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF BELBUCA
Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse
BELBUCA exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing BELBUCA, and monitor regularly for these behaviors and conditions.
Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression
Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur with use of BELBUCA, especially during initiation or following a dosage increase. To reduce the risk of respiratory depression, proper dosing and titration of BELBUCA are essential. Misuse or abuse of BELBUCA by chewing, swallowing, snorting, or injecting buprenorphine extracted from the buccal film will result in the uncontrolled delivery of buprenorphine and poses a significant risk of overdose and death.
Accidental Exposure
Accidental exposure to even one dose of BELBUCA, especially in children, can result in a fatal overdose of buprenorphine.
Risks from Concomitant Use with Benzodiazepines Or Other CNS Depressants
Concomitant use of opioids with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing of BELBUCA and benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate.
Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS)
Advise pregnant women using opioids for an extended period of time of the risk of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated. Ensure that management by neonatology experts will be available at delivery.
Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)
Healthcare providers are strongly encouraged to complete a REMS-compliant education program and to counsel patients and caregivers on serious risks, safe use, and the importance of reading the Medication Guide with each prescription.
Tell your healthcare provider if you are:
- noticing your pain getting worse. If your pain gets worse after you take BELBUCA, do not take more of BELBUCA without first talking to your healthcare provider. Talk to your healthcare provider if the pain that you have increases, if you feel more sensitive to pain, or if you have new pain after taking BELBUCA.
- pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Prolonged use of BELBUCA during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in your newborn baby that could be life-threatening if not recognized and treated.
- breastfeeding. Not recommended during treatment with BELBUCA. It may harm your baby.
- living in a household where there are small children or someone who has abused street or prescription drugs.
- taking prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. Taking BELBUCA with certain other medicines can cause serious side effects and could lead to death.
When taking BELBUCA:
- Do not change your dose. Apply BELBUCA exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Use the lowest effective dose possible for the shortest time needed.
- See the detailed Instructions for Use for information about how to apply BELBUCA.
- Do not apply BELBUCA if the package seal is broken or the film is cut, damaged, or changed in any way.
- After the film has adhered to your cheek, avoid eating or drinking until the film has completely dissolved, usually within 30 minutes.
- After BELBUCA is completely dissolved, rinse your mouth with water and swallow. Wait for at least one hour before brushing teeth.
- Report any problems with your teeth immediately to your healthcare provider and schedule an appointment with a dentist. Tell your dentist that you have started taking BELBUCA.
- Avoid touching or moving the buccal film with your tongue or fingers.
- Do not chew, swallow, snort or inject BELBUCA. This will result in uncontrolled delivery of buprenorphine and may cause you to overdose and die.
- Call your healthcare provider if the dose you are using does not control your pain.
- Do not stop using BELBUCA without talking to your healthcare provider.
- Dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused BELBUCA by removing the BELBUCA film from the foil packaging, and promptly flushing down the toilet (if a drug takeback option is not readily available). Visit www.fda.gov/drugdisposal for additional information on disposal of unused medicines.
While using BELBUCA DO NOT:
- Drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how BELBUCA affects you. BELBUCA can make you sleepy, dizzy, or lightheaded.
- Drink alcohol or use prescription or over-the-counter medicines containing alcohol. Using products containing alcohol during treatment with BELBUCA may cause you to overdose and die.
The possible side effects of BELBUCA are:
- nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and sleepiness. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms and they are severe.
Get emergency medical help or call 911 right away if you have:
- trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, chest pain, swelling of your face, tongue or throat, extreme drowsiness, light-headedness when changing positions, feeling faint, agitation, high body temperature, trouble walking, stiff muscles, or mental changes such as confusion.
These are not all the possible side effects of BELBUCA. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. For more information go to dailymed.nlm.nih.gov.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning on Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse, and other serious risks, and Medication Guide, or speak to your healthcare provider if you have questions about BELBUCA.
